Magic Johnson Gave Lakers Clear Warning Before Critical Alex Caruso Decision

Caruso was part of the Lakers team that won the NBA title in 2020 and became a fan favorite during his time with the franchise. He and Lakers fans would have loved for him to be with the team for many more years, but it wasn't to be.

Caruso became a free agent in 2021, and the Lakers allowed him to leave. He signed a four-year, $37 million deal with the Bulls, and the decision to let him go proved to be a huge mistake.

It seems like the Lakers were warned not to make that mistake as well by franchise icon Magic Johnson. During an appearance on "First Take," Johnson, who was president of basketball operations for the Lakers from 2017 to 2019, revealed he had told the team not to let Caruso go if Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was on his way out too.

"The thing that hurt the Lakers the most was losing KCP, and then, we're watching the other guy for Oklahoma City right now in Caruso," Johnson said on First Take, via Legion Hoops. "They were our best on-ball defenders, and I told them that. I said, 'Listen, if you're going to lose KCP [because] he signed for more money, but you gotta keep Caruso.'"

The Lakers did not listen to Johnson's warning. They sent Caldwell-Pope to the Washington Wizards as part of the package for Russell Westbrook, and allowed Caruso to sign with the Bulls.

The Lakers would put their faith in Talen Horton-Tucker over Caruso, as they gave him a three-year, $32 million deal in 2021. Horton-Tucker didn't develop the way they'd hoped, though, and he'd be traded to the Utah Jazz in 2022. He isn't even a starting-caliber player in the NBA now, while Caruso is shining on the biggest stage.